Quotes of the day

posted at 10:41 pm on May 8, 2013 by Allahpundit

Partisan politics loomed over a House hearing Wednesday on the deadly September 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, as Republicans and Democrats clashed over the meaning of testimony from three witnesses who had little new to add to the story…

The three State Department officials, one of whom had testified before, offered a few new pieces of information, but did not shed much light on the key allegations put forth by critics, some of whom have called Benghazi “worse than Watergate.”

***

REP. MATT CARTWRIGHT (D-PA): “I expected a real bombshell to come out today. And I literally sat on the edge of my seat, listening for the bombshells to come out and Tamron, they didn’t happen. There was no news today. There was nothing today that we didn’t already know about. Now I want to tell you, I honor all of us on the panel, we honor the sacrifices made by these witnesses, their commitment to our country, and the truthfulness of their testimony as well. But really there wasn’t anything new that we hadn’t already seen before and that hadn’t already been rehashed again and again. So there isn’t much news today.”

***

All this will no doubt come back to haunt Hillary Clinton should she decide to run for president; in some cases, she appeared to have been too removed from the events in Benghazi. Hicks at one point testified that that he personally spoke to Clinton at 2 a.m. on the night of the attacks, which makes the administration’s vague description in subsequent days even more suspicious.

But that hardly adds up to a cover-up. In the end, Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the chairman of the committee, may find himself digging yet another dry well, as he has done so many times. Even before he took over the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, with zero evidence in hand, Issa called Obama “one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times.” In his relentless search for evidence (and headlines) since, he has found nothing to back up that statement, including his highly publicized and largely fruitless hearings last June into the the Justice Department’s botched “Fast and Furious” gun-tracking program.

It does seem that the Administration’s talking points were massaged a bit after the President’s candor. This may have been attributable to the presidential campaign and the Administration’s desire to low-ball the Al Qaeda threat. If so, this was a venial, not a mortal, sin. It affected not one life. More likely, though, the wording was scrubbed as a result of the nature of the investigation going on at the time–it may have been deemed premature to announce that it was a pre-meditated act of terror. Perhaps the local militia lucked into a situation where they showed up at the consulate and found very little security protection. Hard to say. There were protests all over the middle east that night, ginned up by jihadis using the excuse of a near-unseen anti-Muslim You Tube video.

But let’s say the street gang had been casing the joint in advance. Who’s to blame for the lax security? This is the real substance of the case. Could it have been the Secretary of State? Undoubtedly, no. This sort of question is well below her pay grade. Could it have been the person in charge of embassy security issues? More likely, and that person resigned after the subsequent investigations…and even that might have been unfair for two reasons. Security was up to the Ambassador and Chris Stevens was well known for erring on the side of greater public access to U.S. facilities. Or, more plausibly, reason number two…

Usually, during big news events like today’s Libya testimony, the media swarms Twitter with live updates, observations, and open coordination on Narratives. We saw this last night when South Carolina sent Mark Sanford back to Congress, when the Senate voted on gun control, etc. Political happenings always bring the media to Twitter like moths to a flame.

But today the media has been hiding — at least as soon as the Libya hearings started. Almost all of the Libya Twitter-traffic is coming from those who are not part of a mainstream media that wants to pretend none of this is happening. In other words, they are hiding in shame.

But they are also busy conspiring on how to handle and cover the hearings — with one another and with the White House.

During Congressional hearings on Wednesday regarding the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) became emotional while reading from what he described as an erroneous Accountability Review Board report which largely clears the federal government of culpability for the deaths of four American service personnel. Through tears, Chaffetz plead with his fellow committeemen and women to not allow the historical record of what happened in Benghazi to be whitewashed.

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And Hillary Clinton is the early favourite for the Democrat nomination in 2016? Yeah right!

Crux Australis on May 9, 2013 at 5:29 AM

Realistically, who else are they going to run? They got their ‘black’ president, and all the other ‘males’ are jokes far as likeability goes. Forget Biden, especially. He’s so dumb he’d lose an imaginary argument against a sack of rocks, and the Dems know it. Unless Christie switches parties, there really is no one with any kind of charisma. And I use that term loosely.

The left wing media from kos to ABC are doing their best to excuse, justify, ignore then blame the ones who will not carry Obama’s water like a “good German”..

What ever the scandal, what ever the party, I never doubted that the truth would win out in the end..

Now..

The media has so shamed itself in it’s one minded desire to play cover up and whitewash for the most incompetent president in perhaps our history, all for the color of his skin, and their left wing politics..

I really fear for our future as a free country.

How can we ever trust the media, the rabidly partisan spin they put on this is undeniable. That American heroes can be left to die, all for the glory of a presidents lies.. When before has the media acted in such complete lockstep against the citizens of it’s own country before? They have already declared these whistle blowers dishonest, already taken the party line, and already implied retribution against anyone who speaks out, isn’t really retribution… just justice for saying meanie mean things about that tool Hillary..

When did we go to bed and wake up Soviet citizens?

If not for the peoples stubborn refusal to give up the House to the Left’s demands and false claims we would never know how little American lives mean to those intrusted with protecting them.. Never be able to drag this media kicking and screaming to do it’s job, no matter how begrudgingly, how spitefully.. we would never know..

a career covering Officer, a General Courts Martial seems not enough.. The whispers of Obama quietly purging the officer corp seems less far fetched than it did before. Toe the line in leftist dogma, or be “retired”..

Now some of the bravest are stepping forward.. I hope there are many more, and not just on this scandal, but at Obama’s creation of a party apparatchik apparatus. Nothing so crass or open as the Soviet model..

but one where to not grovel at PC think is a career ender.. We have never had an Officer corps free of political hacks.. But long wars tended to weed them out,.. Obama’s solution was to weed out the officers devoted to their oaths.. because does anyone really doubt, Obama puts his demagoguing politics ahead of American lives anymore?..

maybe his bussed to the polls multiple voters, but not people who think..

The only president in history, whom even his admirers are shocked to discover, is convinced the presidency is too small for his greatness..

The only president in history, whom even his admirers are shocked to discover, is convinced the presidency is too small for his greatness..

mark81150 on May 9, 2013 at 5:58 AM

I’d love knowing what the MSM knows about him. I’m totally persuaded they DO know quite a lot.

But they created him, and are so wholly invested in him they really dare not back away. Well, at least not right away. If they do chill on Obama, they’re going to do it a little at a time. They’ll never fully turn against him, but wait until his term is up after being ‘honest’ about how bad he has been.

The media will (maybe) report on a scandal or two, but it won’t go very far. The media need a graceful exit.

The worst part is the media celebrities — and they consider themselves celebrities — truly believe they are impartial.

Liam on May 9, 2013 at 5:50 AM

but ask one as they smirk and joke about those stupid rubes in fly over countrty.. their nasty hate fot the Sanford voters..

have they ever.. ever made those same nasty remarks about any democrat voter, voting block..

The silence would be telling..

They cuddle with one side, party and joke with them, adopt their petty nasty bigotry, and are truly stunned we don’t see them as fair, on any issue. I met a free lance photographer for the Columbus Dispatch.. and pointedly asked him..

Why do you always frame the pictures of a republican with the most unflattering shots.. the liberal with back lit respectful shots..

f people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly.

I agree.. they still have true believers, but I suspect many are starting to role their eyes when he rants about something, to invested to admit how much they buried about him.. or that they would vote for a dead democrat over a live republican, every time..

There has to be a point, where their die hard socialists can’t intimidate the rank and file media anymore.. A lame duck this soon into his second term, speaks volumes about drama queen fatigue, and how shell shocked some are getting..

I’m hoping at some point, they simply stop burying his leavings anymore..

gotta run.. kids are getting up for school.. and I have to argue with the bus driver, some little weasel two grades lower assigned to sit next to my boy, loves to sucker punch when the driver can’t see him.. One more black eye, and I’ve told my son to do what he needs to do.. smaller or not, a punk is a punk.. and being smaller is not a license to punch kids who weren’t looking his way..

Good luck, my friend. In the 7th grade, I had to hit a bully twice my size, right between the eyes with my 2S (Tom-Tom) drumsticks. When I got to the office, the Asst. Principal just laughed, and sent me back to class.:)

They have an agenda, and they’re convinced now is the time to reveal part of it. But they’re terrified of going the whole hog, because the people aren’t fully ready to embrace it. Too much, too son will scare off the voters.

So, and maybe more, the LSM are more terrified of mistakes made by their precious Obama. I imagine they first thought they had a final lock with the first ‘black’ president. Then they realized he’s a narcissistic idiot who can barely think in the first place. And when he does, it’s only about himself. He’s not what they would call ‘ideal’, but they’re stuck with him. And they have to cover for him all the time because, really, he’s the weakest link when he was supposed to be linchpin.

Right on target, sadly. Loved the Sowell quote too. Yesterday was a sad day for freedom in America. Another day to strengthen our resolve, honor the courageous, and locate the source of the putrid stench to clean it out.

I get a sense, just a gut feeling if you will, Benghazi reminds a lot of LSM types of the Iran Contra Affair. They really wanted to sink Reagan, but failed because Col. Oliver North (USMC) willingly took the heat. So desperate were liberals to get Reagan that they granted North immunity before knowing what he had to say. North took the heat, and Congress could do nothing about it.

Here, though, no one is going to take the blame for what Obama and Hillary did/refused to do. And it could all turn into a big bloody mess for everyone involved, including the complicit media. Heads could feasibly roll over this, maybe even such high-placed media hacks like Chris Matthews. Wouldn’t THAT be great?

This is dangerous ground for the Left right now. They need to ‘manage’ this crisis, because so many gains hinge on the results. Obama is still doing nothing; he’s not effective at all to The Cause. That alone has the Left fretting, I imagine. But Benghazi could be a nuclear-tipped torpedo if liberals can’t get control of the narrative and the final determination of the hearings.

They really have nothing to fall back on, except the original lie. The media HAVE to stick with it. They painted themselves into a corner. Like the song Twilight Zone goes, “Where do I go now that I’ve too far?”

just afraid that the gop nominee will not go after hillary on this during the campaign because he/she will be afraid of all the lsm outrage of sexism towards her…another war on women meme

cmsinaz on May 9, 2013 at 7:22 AM

That depends on how the committee rules at the end in its final report. I seriously doubt the Administration will be totally absolved, but I’m certain Hillary won’t be held full responsible. At best, we get get an ambiguous determination, like the uniquely-Scottish jury ruling of ‘not proven’.

Sadly, though, I fear you are right that no GOP candidate running against Hillary will have the guts to make mention of Benghazi.

That’s possible, but I think the LSM will destroy well in advance any chance he has of being the candidate. Already they’re calling his citizenship/eligibility into question. And it’s still three years ahead of the election. The media don’t have to prove anything. Three years of innuendo and rumor will work just as well, if not better.

That’s possible, but I think the LSM will destroy well in advance any chance he has of being the candidate. Already they’re calling his citizenship/eligibility into question. And it’s still three years ahead of the election. The media don’t have to prove anything. Three years of innuendo and rumor will work just as well, if not better.

Liam on May 9, 2013 at 7:46 AM

You know what? The media doesn’t get to make eligibility decisions. Either Cruz is or he is not and he clearly is by the Constitution.

benghazi is a booby trap for the gop..this is not going to stick on hillary
-donny deutch

cmsinaz on May 9, 2013 at 7:13 AM

The GOP should ignore this “friendly advice” from an Obamabot and press on with articles of Impeachment. It’s the only way to get the media to report the facts:

1. Obama supported the removal of Kadaffi with taking into account whether this would create room for al Qaeda to operate in Libya.
2. Amb Stevens, concerned about an attack from an Al Qaeda militia operating in Libya, repeatedly asked for increased security.
3. Clinton and Obama ignored the requests for increased security despite the attacks on the Red Cross and the British Ambassador. A competent CIC would have been aware of the threat and would have directed that increased security be provided without even being asked.
4. Al Qaeda attacked on 9/11.
5. Obama responded to the attack by voting Present and then going to bed – leaving four Americans to die.
6. Clinton and Obama began the cover up the next day.
7. The media has functioned and will continue to function as Obama’s Scandal Condom. (Greg Gutfield)

You know what? The media doesn’t get to make eligibility decisions. Either Cruz is or he is not and he clearly is by the Constitution.

Happy Nomad on May 9, 2013 at 7:50 AM

We know that, but people like HAL do not. Or, more accurately, they don’t care. Just saying it — the accusation itself — is enough to ‘convict’. Of course HAL was simply trying to be a jerk, but the thing is that he and other liberals are jerk enough to push the narrative.

Plus, the innuendo is also out there that Cruz isn’t an ‘authentic’ Hispanic; he’s not Hispanic ‘enough’. So, it will follow, if Hispanics don’t see him as legitimate, how can anyone else see him legit on anything at all?

We know how this LSM game is played. The low-information types will be fretting over the narrative, unable or unwilling to see what is actually true.

Nice post. Absolutely maddening listening to the Dems cite the ARB conclusions while the very last thing they want is ACCOUNTABILITY. Heck, even one of the three whistle blowers on scene that night never got interviewed, even after requesting to be. If the media thinks it is a witch hunt, let a special prosecutor do the hunting.

We know how this LSM game is played. The low-information types will be fretting over the narrative, unable or unwilling to see what is actually true.

Liam on May 9, 2013 at 7:56 AM

So same as 2012. And I’d be sorely disappointed if the GOP only nominated Cruz because of his Hispanic credentials. We all know the LSM will try to de-rail any contender to the Democrat. They’ll even endorse the most liberal Republican during the primary. That should be a given during any discussion of political strategy.

Race.
Besides it being a lib Prez..
Do you really think they are going to let the 1st black (half, but ya know) go down in history in flames? He$$ no.
Nor will they when it is the 1st woman, Latino..ect..
As long as its a “D”.

williamg rants about the pubs..well, I gotta agree.
They tip toe around this fool over and over..
McCain, Mitt couldn’t even stand the hell up to him. In fact, they bent over to compliment him and play nice.
“We have nothing to fear with Barack Obama in the White House”

imo..it is a factor as to why. All afraid of the race card..as it has been quite effective.
No one wants to bring down the 1st black Pres..the historic pentacle.
The media rolls over broken glass for him to make sure his historic legacy will not be broken.
I’m not saying it is the entire reason but one big ingredient.

Yeah..where was Barry when 9/11 part deuce went down..why does he not seem to care at ALL? Can’t even ask that? No way…
His filthy hands will be cleansed by those with no spine and the propaganda machine.
They will not let him fail-at any price.
The black Abraham Lincoln..is how he will be written. They will see to it.
If you don’t think that is exceedingly important to them..then got your blinders on.
Even many of the Pubs.
Its a dance, daily.
Just common sense. He’s not just a LIB but the 1st Blk Prez. Historic..

As I checked out at the grocery and see the Newsweek mag staring at me.
“The Republican Savior”. With Rubio standing their like Jesus.
If he wasn’t Cuban..I highly doubt he would be called that and a centerpiece with “savior” on it.

imo..it is a factor as to why. All afraid of the race card..as it has been quite effective.
No one wants to bring down the 1st black Pres..the historic pentacle.
The media rolls over broken glass for him to make sure his historic legacy will not be broken.
I’m not saying it is the entire reason but one big ingredient.

Yeah..where was Barry when 9/11 part deuce went down..why does he not seem to care at ALL? Can’t even ask that? No way…
His filthy hands will be cleansed by those with no spine and the propaganda machine.
They will not let him fail-at any price.
The black Abraham Lincoln..is how he will be written. They will see to it.
If you don’t think that is exceedingly important to them..then got your blinders on.
Even many of the Pubs.
Its a dance, daily.
Just common sense. He’s not just a LIB but the 1st Blk Prez. Historic..

bazil9 on May 9, 2013 at 8:03 AM

Not even close as to their reason. His race is incidental, icing on the cake; not an imperative.

No. It’s his – and their – IDEOLOGY that is important. They couldn’t care LESS about the fact that he’s half black. It’s his Marxist and Progressive credentials that they are defending. If he comes down, their entire program is exposed as flawed and they can’t have that, having come this far.

It’s not even about Obama. It’s all about their ideas.

You have to understand that they know what the stakes are and they know what the goal is.

You know what? The media doesn’t get to make eligibility decisions. Either Cruz is or he is not and he clearly is by the Constitution.

Happy Nomad on May 9, 2013 at 7:50 AM

Cruz is no more eligible than Obama but the NBC requirement has effectively been abolished. The GOP should not hesitate to nominate Cruz. Based on what I have seen so far he is easily the most qualified and the best candidate.

Richard Nixon was impeached and subsequently resigned for lying about his knowledge of a “petty larceny” burglary of the DNC offices.Nobody died during the burglary.After being informed of the attack on our embassy in Benghazi, our Commander-in-Chief,President Obama went to sleep.He did not send help and 4 Americans died.He lied,and told the American people the attack was the result of an inflammatory video.He knew this was a terrorist attack.Obama lied about his knowledge about an attack which killed Americans while he slept.Impeach Obama!

You cut out my comment- that 1st is the Lib holy grail.
Yes..icing on the cake..but the historic part and his race has played a part. I said one ingredient.
I agree with you comment, feel you misunderstood mine.
Oh, and resenting him..sure..he is a major eff up..I am sure they do.